buckle 1 of 2

verb

Definition of bucklenext
1
as in to collapse
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure the flimsy bridge buckled under the weight of the caravan of trucks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention buckled himself down and finished the assignment in record time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

buckle

2 of 2

noun

as in loop

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of buckle
Verb
On Tuesday morning, the FDNY received reports of bricks falling from the building; inspectors found two support columns buckling on the 21st floor and floors sagging up through the 26th. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 8 July 2026 The building, as well as several nearby buildings in New York’s Midtown East neighborhood, were evacuated Tuesday morning after officials noticed support columns were buckling, while surrounding streets were closed. — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
The three straps each feature an adjustable metal buckle and stand out thanks to their glittery pattern. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 An adjustable buckle is helpful for wider feet and to keep the sandal from slipping off narrow feet. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for buckle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buckle
  1. collapse
  2. devote
  3. loop
  4. go
  5. apply
  6. fold
  7. give
  8. spiral
Verb
  • The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The dogs, specially trained to detect human scent, have spent days searching for people trapped beneath the rubble of nearly 200 buildings that collapsed following the two powerful back-to-back earthquakes.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • The real Nafisi is a beloved literary figure, a professor who has devoted the bulk of her life to evangelizing about the transcendence of Western literature in places where its liberal, humanist messages are much needed.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The commission is the only federal agency devoted solely to election administration.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of devote
Noun
  • The rules would restrict data center water use by requiring closed loop cooling systems, and would increase set back requirements to put more space between data center buildings and nearby homes and businesses.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026
  • Called Kamo‘oalewa, the space rock loops by Earth, coming as close as 9 million miles and as far as 25 million miles from our planet.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 July 2026
Definition of loop
Verb
  • News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Leo Jimenez also went deep for the Marlins, who set a franchise record with 12 homers for a three-game series.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • The Calabria governor confirmed that 63 Cuban doctors, some of them previously involved in Cuba’s international medical mission, recently applied to work in its healthcare system independently.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • The hospitality wage and the enforcement fee only apply to hotels and motels with 150 or more rooms — roughly 110 properties.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of apply
Noun
  • Strava has seen extraordinary growth in organised run clubs, with community groups growing several-fold as participation in organised running continues to accelerate.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • Like an origami box, each fold reveals another treasure, from Mick Ronson’s moonshot guitar to the feel-good chorus.
    — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
Definition of fold
Verb
  • Because of that, the resolution called on the Legislature to give counties more oversight.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026
  • The most fascinating quarter-final tie for me, given that Switzerland denied us an ​all-South American affair between Argentina​ and Colombia.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of give
Noun
  • Despite the 2010 box office success ofJackass 3D, his spiral was worsened by the death of his best friend and Jackass co-star Ryan Dunn in a car crash the following year.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • His flurry of buying came on the tail end of a steep four-day spiral that was sparked by the unveiling of his plan for broad and high tariffs.
    — Alex Harring,Luke Fountain, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of spiral

Browse Nearby Words

bucking up
buckle
buckled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buckle. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on buckle

Nglish: Translation of buckle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about buckle

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